Free tool
What do I call them?
In Indian languages, your father’s brother and your mother’s brother aren’t the same “uncle” — build a relationship below and see exactly what you call them, in your language.
Tap a relationship below to begin — like Father, then Brother — and see exactly what you call them.
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Common relationships
A quick reference. The calculator above covers every path and more languages.
| Relationship | English | Tamil | Hindi | Telugu |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Father's brother | uncle (father's brother) | பெரியப்பா / சித்தப்பா | ताऊ / चाचा | పెదనాన్న / చిన్నాన్న |
| Father's sister | aunt (father's sister) | அத்தை | बुआ | అత్త |
| Mother's brother | uncle (mother's brother) | மாமா | मामा | మామయ్య |
| Mother's sister | aunt (mother's sister) | பெரியம்மா / சித்தி | मौसी | పెద్దమ్మ / చిన్నమ్మ |
| Father's father | paternal grandfather | தாத்தா | दादा | తాత |
| Mother's mother | maternal grandmother | பாட்டி | नानी | అమ్మమ్మ |
| Brother's son | nephew | மருமகன் | भतीजा / भांजा | — |
| Sister's daughter | niece | மருமகள் | भतीजी / भांजी | — |
| Father's brother's son | cousin | மச்சான் | चचेरा भाई | — |
| Husband's brother | brother-in-law | மைத்துனன் | जीजा / साला | — |
| Wife's sister | sister-in-law | நாத்தனார் | भाभी / साली | — |
Questions
What do you call your father's brother?
In English he's your (paternal) uncle — but most Indian languages have a specific word, and it can even change depending on whether he's older or younger than your father. Use the calculator above and choose your language to see the exact term.
What's the difference between a paternal and a maternal uncle?
In English both are simply “uncle”, but many Indian languages use completely different words for your father's brother versus your mother's brother. The calculator shows each one precisely in your language.
How do I find the right kinship term in my language?
Start at “You” in the calculator above, tap the relationships to build the path (for example Father, then Brother), and pick your language — EnVergal's relationship engine shows the exact term.